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Visual Intonation, hosted by acclaimed director and screenwriter Vanté Gregory, delves into the vibrant world of Black artistry. Each episode features intimate conversations with visionary creators, exploring the depths of their craft and the cultural resonance of their work. Vanté Gregory's insightful approach illuminates the nuanced voices shaping contemporary art, offering listeners a profound journey through diverse artistic expressions. From emerging talents to established masters, Visual Intonation amplifies the richness of Black creativity, inviting audiences to experience art through the eyes and voices of its most compelling practitioners.
Visual Intonation finds film not only as an art form but as a basis for education and cultural interaction.
139 Episodes
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In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with Rickey Larke, a filmmaker whose work pulses with heart, hustle, and an unshakable sense of purpose. From a childhood of sneaking candy into the AMC Showplace 12 in Bolingbrook, Illinois, to helming his most ambitious short film The Black Bart of Taco King #17, Rickey’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and community. This is a conversation about the grind behind the glamour, the ten-year climb from unpaid PA gigs to prod...
This week on Visual Intonation, we sit down with Max-Arthur Mantle, a Jamaican-born artist whose lens, pen, and voice challenge silence. As a writer, photographer, and filmmaker, Mantle builds bridges between the Caribbean and the diaspora, between queerness and culture, between pain and power. His debut novel Batty Bwoy didn’t just tell a story. It reclaimed one. In this conversation, Mantle takes us behind the scenes of his boldest work yet: BATTY BWOY!, the feature film adaptation th...
Visual Intonation Podcast steps into the world of Raj Debah, a New York-born artist whose work tells stories others have left untold. Raised in the Bronx by first-generation West Indian parents, Raj uses the lens of mixed media to illuminate the silenced voices of indentured and indigenous peoples connected to the Caribbean. His images speak in layers—photos, found footage, artifacts—woven into a visual language that bridges memory, migration, and resistance. Debah's journey is not just artis...
In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with writer-director Kennard Blackwell, a DC-based filmmaker whose work glides between narrative, commercial, and music video. His films are shaped by contrast, beauty, and the unflinching search for emotional truth. Whether crafting campaigns for nonprofits or framing fashion on film, Kennard brings a sharp eye and a quiet confidence to every project he touches. From his years as Creative Director at 522 Productions to his freelance dir...
Rohan Blair-Mangat brings a sharp, painter’s eye to filmmaking, shaped by his roots in Jamaica, India, and London. With a degree in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins, his work vibrates with bold visuals and layered storytelling. This episode of Visual Intonation dives into the early influences that shaped his creative voice and the moments that first sparked his passion behind the lens. From award-winning music videos to global commercial campaigns, Rohan’s portfolio reads like a cultural m...
Kabelo Thathe didn’t set out to become a cinematographer. Raised in South Africa, he felt the pressure so many young creatives do—to pursue a "real" career. But behind closed doors, his walls were a riot of movie posters and cinematic dreams. A high school year in Minnesota cracked the world open for him. When he returned home, he knew he had a calling: to tell stories with light, movement, and meaning. In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with Kabelo to trace the journey f...
In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with cinematographer Allysa Lisbon, a compelling visual storyteller whose work is grounded in both intellectual rigor and emotional depth. Based in Los Angeles and originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Allysa holds degrees from Georgetown University and the American Film Institute, where she earned her MFA in cinematography. Her visual language is thoughtful and precise, shaped by a commitment to telling nuanced stories across film, media, an...
In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with filmmaker Abdul Kassamali, a Seattle-based director and producer whose path into film was anything but traditional. Born in the U.S. and raised in Kenya, Abdul originally trained as an electrical engineer before making a bold leap into filmmaking during the pandemic. Since then, he’s built a career rooted in intentional storytelling and high-stakes production, collaborating with major clients like REI, HOKA, and The North Face. His work s...
In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with director and cultural provocateur Giselle Bailey, a Jamaican-American filmmaker whose boundary-pushing work blends documentary, narrative, and contemporary art. Giselle’s artistry isn’t just about creating films—it’s about sparking cultural transformation. Her lens explores the power of Black imagination, reshaping narratives and championing revolutionary perspectives. From directing the HBO documentary The Legend of the Underground to he...
Jabari Canada brings an architect’s eye and a documentarian’s heart to the Visual Intonation Podcast. Studying at MIT by day and telling human stories through a lens by night, Canada traces his path from interning for Congressman Elijah Cummings to filming JPEGMAFIA for MoMA PS1. His work spans political campaigns, Les Blank, experimental art, and commercial sets, but always returns to one core principle: people over policy, and the stories they carry. In this conversation, Canada talks about...
On this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with Jamaican-American filmmaker Justice Silvera, a director whose eye is as grounded in real life as it is pulled toward the surreal. Raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Justice has forged a voice that is uniquely his own, shaped by experience, heritage, and a gift for weaving dreamlike tension into everyday moments. Justice’s work has lit up screens in videos for artists like Polo G, Mustard, and 808 Mafia. But behind the lens is a man who once ...
Alex Ashe’s story doesn’t begin behind a camera. It begins with a battered lighting technician’s manual clutched between takes, with sweat on his brow and questions on his tongue. From long nights rigging lights to quiet hours studying lenses, Ashe’s climb through the grip and electric department shaped the sensibility he brings to the frame today. Now a cinematographer and director, his images carry that hard-earned precision and a belief that light is never neutral. In this episode, A...
Welcome to the Visual Intonation Podcast, where storytelling meets the art of visual expression. In this episode, we sit down with the talented filmmaker Fisayo Olajide, also known as Fiz, whose award-winning documentaries capture the profound impact of human stories. From her roots in London to her Nigerian heritage, Fiz’s perspective as a Black female filmmaker has shaped her career and led her to amplify voices often overlooked. Her work continues to break boundaries, whether through brand...
From a Craigslist Canon to Cinematic Dreams: The Story of B.P. In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with B.P., a Pasadena-born cinematographer and founder of BEARVISION Photography & Design. What began with a humble Canon T3i purchased off Craigslist turned into a multi-city journey through the lens—one that has taken him from Indiana arts festivals to feature films and high-profile collaborations with brands like Amazon, HOORAE, and Buzzfeed. B.P. shares how his early days ...
Visual Intonation Podcast – Featuring Taj Devore-Bey In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with Taj Devore-Bey, a rising Philadelphia-based cinematographer whose lens is shaped as much by trauma as it is by talent. Before he picked up a camera, Devore-Bey was navigating the sharp edges of adolescence in Southwest Philly, where a life-altering home invasion forever redefined his idea of safety. At 16, he witnessed his father survive a near-fatal shooting — a moment that shatt...
This episode of Visual Intonation dives into the quiet power and creative pulse behind emerging Nigerian filmmaker Unwana Uteh. With works like Heartbreaks & Ocean Waves and Las Flores de la Vida, Uteh crafts stories that ripple with intimacy and cultural resonance. His films, though understated in scope, speak volumes about emotion, identity, and the layered beauty of everyday life. From the bustling heart of Surulere to the vibrant halls of UNILAG, Uteh’s journey is as textured as...
In this episode of Visual Intonation, we speak with Kyla Simmons, a distinguished graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s renowned Radio-Television-Film program. Recognized with Dean’s List honors from the Moody College of Communication, Kyla has consistently demonstrated academic excellence paired with a strong creative vision. A dedicated multi-hyphenate in the field of media and storytelling, Kyla brings a deep passion for directing, acting, and casting. As the former president of ...
In this episode of Visual Intonation, we dive into the world of interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker Anita Safowaa, whose work captivates with its profound exploration of under-documented cultural moments. Anita's multifaceted approach bridges film, audio, immersive experiences, and archival research to create deeply personal yet universal stories. Known for her thought-provoking projects like A Single Bracelet Does Not Jingle and To Those Before Me, her works have resonated with audiences ...
Tiara West is a visionary storyteller who blends the grit of experience with the grace of artistry. On Visual Intonation, she opens the door to her world, where self-taught passion meets years of tireless hustle. Born in Baltimore and sharpened in Atlanta, Tiara shares how she transformed her dreams into cinematic moments, beginning with theater training at Arena Players Incorporated and evolving into award-winning filmmaking. This podcast isn’t just about her journey. It’s a deep dive into t...
On this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with Zoë Davidson, a brilliant Director of Photography whose work speaks volumes — even when there’s no dialogue. Based in Toronto, Zoë’s shot films across Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean, and her camera has a way of capturing not just images, but emotion. Her journey is rooted in storytelling, travel, and a deep connection to culture. Zoë holds an MFA from Howard University and spent four years teaching digital media before diving f...
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